Charles Bender High School, built in 1929, will be transformed into a performing arts center.

Charles Bender High School, built in 1929, will be transformed into a performing arts center.

Photo: Jerry Baker, Freelance

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Mark Martin, City of Humble Facilities Manager, takes a walk-thru at Charles Bender High School, built in 1929, that will be transformed into a performing arts center.

Mark Martin, City of Humble Facilities Manager, takes a walk-thru at Charles Bender High School, built in 1929, that will be transformed into a performing arts center.

Photo: Jerry Baker, Freelance

Image 4 of 8

Humble's Charles Bender High School, built in 1929, will be transformed into a performing arts center. Above is a slogan engraved in stone above a door at the school. Officials have hired an architectural firm to design the transformation. less

Humble's Charles Bender High School, built in 1929, will be transformed into a performing arts center. Above is a slogan engraved in stone above a door at the school. Officials have hired an architectural firm ... more

"You have to realize how much fun it was to go to school there in the '50s, back when Humble was Humble," McMannes said. "It was just a carefree time to go to school there."

Right at 60 years ago, there were only three restaurants on Main Street, and it was not uncommon for the students to leave the campus and grab a hamburger and fries instead of eating in the school cafeteria. McMannes, who spent most of his school days in Aldine ISD, only attended Bender for the last semester of high school.

But it was in that short time that McMannes met his future wife, and made lifelong friends of Calfee, Steagall and former city councilman Bill Connor.

"It was just such a relaxed atmosphere at that school," McMannes said.

"You just had fun. It was just that kind of atmosphere over there."

The city council is expected to discuss the interior demolition and redesign of the project at their meeting this month.

Brady said he believes the project will take about a year to complete.